The Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is offering the following workshops:
Times: 7:00pm-9:00pm
Location: KCR, 120-1735 Dolphin Ave
Registration: Leslee Scott at moc.hhdiwnull@ttocsl or call 250.763.3562
- Limited seating available so please register early
- Assistive listening devices available
I usually devote this column to volunteer topics but today I want to pass long some thought provoking ideas about giving money to nonprofit organizations.
I recently watched a TED Talks video posted on www.youtube.com. Dan Pallotta spoke on the topic ‘The way we think about charity is dead wrong’.
Pallotta begins by stating that although business will move the bulk of society forward, there remains about 10 percent of the most disadvantaged left behind; some issues have no money measures upon which to build a market.
He goes on to explain that the nonprofit sector then takes over and “philanthropy becomes the market for love”.
This is a startling statement.
Pallotta eloquently speaks about the “dangerous question: What percentage of my donation goes to the cause versus overhead”.
He cleverly summarizes that we do not really want our tombstone to read, “we kept overhead low”.
So what questions should we be asking?
People who want to change the world ask about the scale of a nonprofit’s dreams and how they plan to measure their progress toward those dreams.
People who want to change the world ask what resources are needed to make dreams real, including the cost of overhead.
Pallotta asks, “Who cares about overhead if these problems are actually getting solved?”
The challenge is to develop “generosity of thought” so that nonprofits can expand to meet real, live human need.
And so I ask you.
Are you truly exercising generosity of thought with your financial donation or does your gift have strings attached that tie the hands of nonprofits that are serving the most vulnerable in our society?
If you are looking for a local charity, like Hands in Service whose tagline is Love.Gives.Back., go to www.kcr.ca and click on Community Information Search Central Okanagan.
LINK
TED Talks:Dan Pallotta, The way we think about charity is dead wrong.
Thursday June 13, 2013 – Thursday June 13, 2013
1380 Ellis Street, Kelowna
Description:
An interactive educational workshop for parents, students and service providers
In his engaging, story-filled presentation, Dr. Michael Ungar will show how a child’s resilience depends on more than a child’s individual capacity to overcome challenges. Resilience is also the ability of young people’s parents and other caregivers to successfully help children navigate and negotiate for the supports they need to thrive. Troubling behaviors like violence and bullying, stealing, social withdrawal, avoiding responsibility for one’s self and others, internet addictions, drug abuse, truancy and early sexual activity can be addressed by providing young people with nine sources of resilience.
These nine sources include: structure, consequences, parent-child connections, strong relationships with peers and adults, a powerful identity, a sense of control, a sense of belonging, spirituality and life purpose, rights and responsibilities, and the safety and support children need to cope when problems arise. In this presentation Michael will share what he has learned from parents and helping professionals who have found inspiring ways to help children become competent, caring contributors to their families, schools, and communities no matter the challenges they face.
About the Presenter:
Michael Ungar, Ph.D. is both a family therapist and a Killam Professor of Social Work at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he co-directs the Resilience Research Centre which coordinates more than five million dollars in funded research in a dozen countries.
Date: Thursday, June 13th
Time: 2:30-4:30 pm
Location: Kelowna Library,1380 Ellis Street, Kelowna
Cost: $20
Co – sponsored by Braintrust Canada and KCR
Friday May 31, 2013 – Friday May 31, 2013
#120-1735 Dolphin Avenue
Description:
Imagine Canada is coming to Kelowna!
Dr. Michelle Gauthier, VP, Public Policy & Community Engagement, is witnessing first-hand how the nonprofit sector’s relationship with government and the public is changing. Charities and nonprofits are charting their own course, defining priorities to maximize impact, and working together to strengthen their collective voice.
This is occurring at the same time as they are faced with increasing demands for accountability, transparency, and efficacy. Governments, for their part, are considering new funding and delivery models, and re-examining their relationships with nonprofits and, indeed, their own roles.
KCR invites you to join Michelle Gauthier for a presentation and discussion about this changing landscape, how these issues are playing out at the federal level, and the challenges and opportunities that exist for organizations to engage at the local and provincial level.
Space is limited, so reserve your seat for this FREE workshop!
Did you know that volunteering can be good for your heart in more ways than one?
We typically think about how ‘good’ it makes us feel about ourselves and about the impact we are making in the lives of others.
It can also improve physical functioning that affects your heart as a muscle.
In a recent study in JAMA Pediatrics, as reported by Lindsay Abrams in The Atlantic on Feb 26, 2013, the benefits of giving back are compounded.
This BC-based study led by Dr. Hannah Schreier focused on grade ten students in a Vancouver high school who completed required volunteer hours that consisted of spending one hour a week helping elementary school students over a period of 10 weeks.
Risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including body mass index (obesity), inflammation, and cholesterol levels were measured at the beginning and end of each semester.
After 10 weeks, volunteering students recorded lower levels in each risk factor compared to a student control group who were on the waiting list to volunteer.
Improvement in students’ mood, self-esteem and sense of altruism were also recorded. Researchers hypothesized that volunteering provided a protective quality that acted like a support network that youth at high risk for cardiovascular disease often lack.
What were the results? Teens who increased the most in empathy for others and helping behavior also reduced their cardiovascular risk factors the most.
I find this study very interesting because it places volunteerism, even for students who are ‘voluntold’, in the same benefit category as physical exercise.
“If we can engage adolescents in volunteering by making it a standard recommendation akin to physical activity or by incorporating it as a regular part of school curricula, we have the potential of reducing CV risk markers in these adolescents,” wrote researchers (Cardiologytoday March 8, 2013).
Links:
The Atlantic. Study: Volunteering May Improve Cardiovascular Health, Lindsay Abrams Feb 26 2013, 7:56 AM ET
Hannah Schreier, LinkedIn. Effect of volunteering on risk factors for cardiovascular disease in adolescents: a randomized controlled trial, Schreier HM, Schonert-Reichl KA, Chen E. Abstract. JAMA Pediatr. 2013 Apr 1;167(4):327-32. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.1100.
Helio.com, Cardiologytoday. Volunteering: A unique approach to improve teen CV health; Schreier HMC. JAMA Pediatr. 2013;doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.1100; March 8, 2013.
The Central Okanagan Charitable Gaming Association is conducting two grant writing workshops for community groups, organizations and charities from the Central Okanagan and Kootenay region, particularly in reference to the BC provincial community gaming grant program.
These workshops follow a sold-out workshop in March. The May sessions take place on Sunday May 26 in the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce boardroom in Kelowna. (544 Harvey Street, the corner of Harvey and Ellis. Content of both workshops is identical.
The first session runs from 8:00am-12:30pm; the second from 1:00pm until 5:30pm. During each session, participants will have an opportunity to ask questions of the presenters, and the attendees are encouraged to bring their past grant applications if they have specific questions around reviews, or denied grants.
The sessions cost $20 per person, and if more than one from an organization attends, the cost is $10 per person for any additional participants.
Presenters include Rhonda Dickson, Coordinator, Northern Interior Community Association based in Prince George, and Caroline Miller, Director, Central Okanagan Charitable Gaming Association.
The workshop will focus on how to write successful applications for the BC Community Gaming Grants program and its upcoming intakes for all grant areas, including arts, sports, the environment, human and social services and other government-specified areas. The session will also provide valuable grant writing basics which can be applied to all funding program applications.
RSVP is required before May 22, by emailing gro.rebmahcanwoleknull@rellimc, or calling Caroline Miller at 250.469.7358. Please tell us in your RSVP that you are confirming your attendance for the grant writing workshop. Please specify how many people from your organization are attending, and their names, if possible. You will be asked to pay cash at the door; exact change is appreciated. Parking is free.
About COCGA
The COCGA is a not-for-profit organization with over one hundred members in the Central Okanagan. Our mission is to create awareness about the BC Community Gaming Grant program and offer support to community groups in the Okanagan region and the Kootenays who are applying to the program.
World-class performers, hands-on creative experiences, exposure to the arts and children focused – that in a nutshell describes the Interior Savings Fat Cat Children’s Festival.
Scheduled for June 7-8, 2013 at Waterfront Park in Kelowna, the success of this Festival is due in large part to a vibrant team of volunteers who help create the magic.
What moves you to get involved? Are you a people person? Do you enjoy children? Is your interest in keeping people organized and safe?
There are lots of roles for you to consider. Use your hands to paint faces, set up the stage, help at an activity station or direct others. Every position is vital to making this Festival happen.
Established in 1990, this annual festival was organized to establish a high-quality, professionally produced education summer festival for children in the Central Okanagan.
In 2007, the vision of the Festival expanded to a two day event in June that includes a School Day on Friday and the Community Day, complete with parade on Saturday.
School Day Friday runs from 8:30am to 2:00pm for schools across the Central Okanagan and engages children in hands-on programming and workshops.
Community Day Saturday begins with the parade at 10:00am and at 11:00am more fun begins. Stage performances, roving performers, interactive activity stations and cultural showcases offer loads of choice and excitement.
The admission fee is $5 per person or $15 for a family of four. Families who plan ahead can save by picking up their early bird passes for $10 at any Interior Savings Branch.
Help make this event a reality by sharing yourself.
You can contact Kim Butt, Volunteer Director, at moc.liamgnull@sreetnulovtactaf. Volunteer job descriptions and application forms are available at www.fatcatfestival.ca.
Information about this Festival and other ways to volunteer are available at www.kcr.ca, Volunteer Opportunities Search Central Okanagan.
Are you:
Who is Accepted:
What does the program include?
Up to 7 weeks of in-class training including:
AND
The program will begin on Monday, June 17th.
For more information about this opportunity, please contact Luc at ac.rcknull@cul or Christine at ac.rcknull@rewopyerg
The May Monthly Bulletin has been released!
Make sure to subscribe to the Monthly Bulletin to stay up-to-date on all of the useful information released each month.
CARP – A New Vision of Aging for Canada is a national organization devoted to seniors’ advocacy, benefits and community.
CARP has chapters scattered across Canada, including seven chapters in British Columbia. The Okanagan chapter, with 1800 members from Osoyoos to Sicamous, hosts a number of public events for its members each year.
This year, for example, we will sponsor events on financial abuse and encourage all Okanagan mayors to issue proclamations in honor of October 1st, International Day of Older Persons.
CARP Okanagan joins the national effort to address issues such as poverty, pensions, housing, caregiving, and supports for healthy aging- including tax credits and services.
The Board of Directors currently has 3 vacancies, including Secretary, and Membership Coordinator to assist with this year’s membership events and outreach.
The current Board of CARP Okanagan donates their time out of concern for the lack of a clear seniors’ voice on important issues, especially where those who are more vulnerable are concerned.
We believe in community, collective efforts and using our creative and innovative talents to make a difference for others in this world.
We have one of the few intergenerational boards in the country because we believe that these issues are, or will be, everyone’s!
If you wish to make a difference at both the civic and national levels, and work with a diverse, committed board please contact us at moc.liamtohnull@naganakoprac or (250) 469-0008 if you are interested!
You can find other ways to volunteer by going to www.kcr.ca and clicking on Volunteer Opportunities Search Central Okanagan.
You can also create a volunteer profile that brings volunteer openings directly to your email inbox. These notices are confidential. Bring the world of volunteering to your virtual door.
To view the video, follow the link to the National Volunteer Week page.
Central Okanagan
